Another Rascon finds success

Mateo Rascon has certainly had a summer to remember on the golf course.

His younger brother, Tomas, showed Wednesday he can play a pretty solid game of golf himself.

Tomas, 10, who will be a fifth-grader at Great River Christian School this fall, brought his 'A' game to the Iowa Section PGA Pee Wee Tour Corridor Classic at Brown Deer Run Golf Club in Iowa City.

Rascon, playing in the 10-11 age bracket, found himself in a tight battle with 11-year-old Jack McCarty, son of Brown Deer Run PGA Professional Sean McCarty, one of the top golfers in the state. Rascon matched McCarty shot for shot on McCarty's home course before McCarty prevailed by one shot.

But it was an experience Tomas Rascon will never forget.

"It was a really good tournament. I think I played pretty good," Tomas Rascon said. "Whenever I could, I said my favorite verse, Colossians 3:23, which says, 'Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.'"

Rascon started his round with a birdie on the 10th hole, which helped give him confidence early and set the table for the rest of his round.

"I had a whole lot of good shots," Rascon said. "I had some shots that gave me birdie and par chances."

Rascon went on to finish at 8-over-par 43, one shot behind McCarty. Rascon now hopes to carry that confidence over into Sunday's National Drive, Chip and Putt Sub-Regional at Warrior Run Golf Course in Norwalk. He will be joined in that competition by his brother, Mateo, and sister, Sela.

"That's going to be really fun," Rascon said. "Last year we all made it there, but my sister and I didn't quite make it (to regionals). It's going to be a lot of fun."

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ALL IN THE FAMILY: Rascon's week started on Sunday with the Parent-Junior at The Preserve on Lake Rathbun.

Tomas Rascon teamed up with his stepdad, James Stevens, while Mateo Rascon team with their grandfather, Mike Nelson, who won numerous Men's City Championships back in the day. This time, Mateo and Mike posted a 6-under-par 66 to win the Boys 12-13 division, while Tomas and Stevens finished fifth with a 78.

Meanwhile, Tate Nelson, another of Mike Nelson's grandsons, teamed with Marc Luedtke, uncle of Tomas and Mateo, to finish fourth in the Boys 16-18 division with an 85.

But this was about more than competing, more than winning and losing. This was about having fun and bonding on the golf course.

"Mateo and I were actually supposed to play in the 11-under division, but we decided to play in the 12-13 group because we wanted to have fun and we wanted to play 18 holes instead of nine," Tomas Rascon said. "Mateo played with Grandpa Mike and our uncle and cousin played in the 16-18 group. We actually went up the day before and got to play a practice round."

For the Rascon family, it was a chance to do some family bonding and spend some time doing what they love to do best — golf. And they took away memories they will cherish the rest of their lives.

"We were just out there having fun," Tomas said. "We still tried hard, but it was actually really, really fun."

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ACES HIGH: T.J. Widbin has been golfing most of his life and on Monday he accomplished something he has never done before on a golf course — score a hole in one. The former Burlington High School standout aced the 138-yard, par-3 seventh hole at Spirit Hollow Golf Course using a pitching wedge. The shot was witnessed by Brandon Upton.

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